GM Ends Medium Duty Production
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Dmace
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It would be nice to see GM come out with a 4500/5500 cab chassis design like the Dodge and Ford trucks, they certainly have the drivetrain for it.
Diamondpilot
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The did Sorta have that in the Top Kick and Kodiak line. The chassis on the current trucks is barley up to the task of 3/4 and 1 tons. It would have to be a whole clean sheet design.
Chris
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Dmace
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Last I checked, the Top Kick and Kodiak line were not "like the Dodge and Ford trucks", they are much larger and heavier. As far as the GM chassis, give me a break. I am no GM guy but they do make tough trucks and if Ford can do it with their drivetrains that are "barely up to the task of 3/4 and 1 tons" then why not.
Since when did GM make the Allison transmission...?
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I don't have any verification, but I've heard for a while that GM's medium duty suppliers got hit hard when GM stiffed them for parts already supplied to GM but never paid for due to their bankruptcy. A local company went under due to this. A guy I know who was in mgt there said he didn't believe GM would be able to line up other suppliers with their track record.
*edit*
I just read the attached article and it really matches what I'd been told by unemployed supplier employees. GM had been trying to sell that segment of their business but, with their bad name, no other company wanted to pay GM for their name or their operation that couldn't secure suppliers. If other companies had to go out and get all new suppliers, they'd just do the deal on their own and save the cost of paying GM since GM would be providing them with nothing.
*edit*
I just read the attached article and it really matches what I'd been told by unemployed supplier employees. GM had been trying to sell that segment of their business but, with their bad name, no other company wanted to pay GM for their name or their operation that couldn't secure suppliers. If other companies had to go out and get all new suppliers, they'd just do the deal on their own and save the cost of paying GM since GM would be providing them with nothing.
Diamondpilot
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Last I checked, the Top Kick and Kodiak line were not "like the Dodge and Ford trucks", they are much larger and heavier. As far as the GM chassis, give me a break. I am no GM guy but they do make tough trucks and if Ford can do it with their drivetrains that are "barely up to the task of 3/4 and 1 tons" then why not.
Since when did GM make the Allison transmission...?
You just validated what I was saying. I am not knocking the GM based trucks, just stating facts. GM uses torsion bar front suspension on the trucks and the chassis is lighter and not boxed like the Ford or Dodge. Every heard people say I really like the GM truck because it rides better than the others? Its simple, its lighter built. It was not up to the task to make a 4500 series or larger so they came out with the Top Kick and Kodiak line. These were good trucks for what they were. GM simply did not have a chassis that could handle the cab and chassis market as Dodge and Ford does. Every wonder why you see very little if any GM based ambulances, tow trucks, delivery trucks, small dump trucks? The chassis is just not there. They have a drive train that is adequate but the GM trucks have the lowest GVWR of the 3 manufactures across the line with Ford being the heaviest, Dodge following, and GM.
Chris
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Does a frame have to be boxed to be strong? Never saw a freightliner or peterbilt with a boxed frame. Resale value tells the story. When customers are happy the used price is higher and in greater demand. If it wasn't for the cummins dodges wouldn't have a hd line. Ford has such a good driveline it keeps mechanics fully employed everywhere. When mine is traded and GM doesn't offer a replacement it will be an International.
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